How Many Puppies Can a Shih Tzu Have? Vet-Verified Pregnancy & Litter Information
In this article
View 3 More +The Shih Tzu is a popular toy dog breed. They are friendly, generally sweet-natured, and elegant. Unlike a lot of toy breeds, which only have one to three puppies in a litter, the Shih Tzu can have as many as 6-8 puppies. Most commonly, though, a Shih Tzu litter size will be between 3 and 6 puppies.
Shih Tzu Pregnancy
Shih Tzus, like most breeds, will come into heat two times per year: spring and fall. It's not recommended that they are bred two seasons in a row in order to give their bodies a rest.
Pregnancy lasts approximately two months, creating a litter between one and eight puppies. Most often, this breed will have between three and six puppies.
Caring for a Pregnant Shih Tzu
Caring for a pregnant Shih Tzu is much the same as caring for any pregnant breed:
How to Ensure Healthy Shih Tzu Puppies
When the puppies arrive, you will need to provide lots of care for mom while also monitoring the puppies, although you need to keep contact to a bare minimum wherever possible.
Below are some tips to help ensure your new Shih Tzu puppies are as healthy as possible.
1. Don’t Handle Them Too Often
Every time you handle newborn puppies, you should ensure you have thoroughly washed your hands and there is no risk of passing on any infection or bacteria. As tempting as it is to scoop them up for long cuddles, keep physical handling to a minimum.
Handling not only increases the risk of infection and illness, but it can also cause stress and distress in the puppies and the mom.
2. Make Sure They’re Eating
The more puppies there are in a litter, the more competition there will be for nursing. Most of the time your bitch will be able to accommodate her whole litter, but keep an eye to make sure all of the puppies are gaining weight and staying hydrated. Talk to your vet if you think you need to supplement one or two that aren’t getting enough.
3. Keep Them Warm
Your bitch will do what she can to keep her puppies warm and comfortable, but more puppies means more work and she may not be able to give each puppy the attention they require. Therefore, it may be up to you to make sure all the puppies are staying warm and cared for. Provide the new litter with a clean, comfortable bed in an area where you can control the temperature. These little bodies will have trouble regulating their temperature for several weeks, so make sure they’re not getting too cold.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Often Can Shih Tzus Have Puppies?
Shih Tzus typically go into heat twice a year, and their gestation period is approximately two months. Theoretically, they can have two litters of puppies a year, but it is not recommended. Whelping can be challenging for this small dog, and breeding too often can put considerable physical stress on her body.
Most Shih Tzus therefore should only have a single litter of puppies a year.
Can You Hold Puppies as Soon as They Are Born?
Generally, it is best not to handle newborn puppies, unless it is medically necessary or if the puppy is in danger. There is risk of passing on bacteria that can cause infections and illnesses, which can be extremely serious in very young puppies.
If you do have to handle the puppies, ensure your hands are spotlessly clean. Otherwise, leave the mother to care for her puppies for the first few weeks.
How Do You Know If Your Shih Tzu Is Going to Give Birth?
If you are comfortable taking the internal temperature of your Shih Tzu bitch, start monitoring it about 6 or 7 weeks into the pregnancy. If you notice the temperature drop to around 98°F, this is a good sign they will give birth within a day or so.
You may also notice signs such as the mom nesting, becoming more withdrawn, and becoming uneasy and pacing around.
Conclusion
Although litter sizes vary, most Shih Tzus have between three and six puppies per litter, with a maximum of one litter a year considered suitable. Speak to your veterinarian for guidelines on how to feed your pregnant dog as well as how to monitor and care for her and the puppies once they are born.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Alessandra Sawick, Shutterstock
Expert dog care, straight to your inbox
News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog.
No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
How useful was this post?
Click a star to rate. You can leave written feedback afterwards. (We read all feedback.)
Matt is a freelance writer from the UK. He lives with his partner and daughter, as well as two cats and one dog. A data analyst by profession, Matt moved from numbers to words more than 15 years ago and has been writing ever since. Having volunteered at a local animal sanctuary, he has a lot of experience with dogs, cats, and horses. Matt has also kept bearded dragons, a variety of birds, fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats. His daughter has adopted the same passion for animals, keeping and breeding snakes. A geek at heart, Matt is a member of a local board gaming group and regularly forces his family to “enjoy” board games with him at home.
